The Inadvertent Farmer

Out of This World Rhubarb!

As I was out in the garden the other day checking on the peas and spinach I had planted I also checked in on the rhubarb...

 

When I pulled back the leaves I had used for mulch I saw the tiny wrinkled leaves starting to poke out of the soil...

 

 

The ones that had made it through the mulch were starting to green up...

 

 

Rhubarb is such a striking plant with its crinkled leaves and crimson stems...

Then there is the yummy pies and sauces it makes!

 

It looks rather otherworldly to me at this stage...

 

Now tell me...

Don't you see that blood red hand emerging from the earth clutching an ill begotten brain?

I know you see it...you might as well admit it!

 

Yep, that makes you just about as twisted as me!

I'll just let you ponder that...

 

 

Puppy Daze

OK...I am admitting right now that our new puppy has life in a daze.

Having been 18 years since we had a puppy around we had forgotten how much work they are.

Potty training, getting into everything, chewing on anything...and everyone!

 

People...

 

 

Chairs...

It doesn't matter, if she can catch it she will bite it!

The kids are actually scared to go outside without jeans and boots on...

Baby Boy won't let me put him down outside at all unless Daisy is not around...

Yep, she has got everyone on guard!

 

 

She also seems to have only two speeds...

Full tilt running around like a crazy dog, or dead asleep...nothing in between!

 

 

She gets into everything.

She has even been chewing on my rose bushes...that's gotta hurt!

 

 

Even though we live at the end of a dead end road in the boonies we still cannot leave her outside by herself for more than just a few minutes...

The resident eagles or coyotes might decide she looks good as a puppy snack!

She is just still too little to be left alone in this big world...

 

 

I have decided that God had His reasons for making puppies so darn cute...

if they weren't I'm not sure we would put up with them!

 

 

He also did the same with babies...

 

 

His sneaky way of making sure the species survived!

The Great Ivy Massacre!

I just wanted to share with you what my ivy looked like on the porch columns just before I cut it all down...

Yep the elk made this all neccessary...

It is amazing what elk can do to the landscaping!

 

I suppose I could have left it like this to fill back in on the bottom but I figures just cut it back to the bottom of the columns and let it grow back up evenly,

Heaven knows it will grow back...it is not considered an invasive weed for nothing!

 

Remember before? 

Yes it was lush and green...

But no more!

Whatever...

 

I'm calling it

The Great Ivy Massacre!

Green Eggs...no Ham!

I have green eggs...

My sweet chickens provide them for me...

I love my chickens...

 

I also love that I think of Dr. Seuss and his wonderful book 'Green Eggs and Ham' every time I crack one...my name becomes Sam...I am Sam I am!

"I am Sam"

"Same I am"

 

 

"Do you like green eggs and ham?"

 

"I do not like them Sam-I-am"

"I do not like green eggs and ham"

 

Ohhh how I adore Dr. Seuss...pure genius he is!

 

 

"Would you like them in a house?"

Would you like them with a mouse?"

"I do not like them in a house"

"I do not like them with a mouse"

 

"I do not like them here or there"

"I do not like them anywhere"

"I do not like green eggs and ham"

I do not like them Sam-I-am"

 

But I do like green eggs...

ham not so much being a vegetarian and all...

I do enjoy a veggie sausage now and then,

But they are not green...my eggs are!

Did I mention I love green eggs?

Did I also mention I also love my chickens?

Well I do...

 

Please if you do not have it go buy or borrow Green Eggs and Ham...you will be completely enthralled as if you were a child again...

 

"You do not like them. So you say"

"Try them! Try them! And you may"

"Try them and you may, I say."

 

 

"Sam! If you let me be,

"I will try them.  You will see"

"Say! I like green eggs and ham! 

 I do!  I like them, Sam-I-am"

 

"I do so like

"green eggs and ham

"Thank you!"

"Thank you, Sam-I-am"

 

and thank you Dr. Seuss!

 

NOTE:  I have joined the 'not dabbling in normal' blog which is a joint adventure among some very talented farmer/homesteader/gardener/blogger types...and me.  Yes I am still scratching my head as to why I was invited but I am pleased as punch to be there.  My first post is now up explaining who I am and more importantly why I am certainly not dabbling in normal...not even close!!!

Feel free to drop in and visit me over there...

And have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

 

 

Friday Funnies IV

Hiding Out!

I told the kids it was time to clean up...

I left the room to put some laundry away and when I came back Sweet Girl had made a tent out of a blanket.  I could her whispering to Baby Boy to be quiet or I would find them and make them clean.

Like I wasn't going to notice the big blanket that was in the middle of the family room with a couple of giggling kids under it!

Boys...Tough and Tender

One thing I have learned after having 4 boys is that even though they are tough little guys...

They bang, hit, yell, run, throw...

  And at a very young age attempt to climb everything...

 

Even if it means feet dangling in the air looking worriedly at mama...

Still they keep on climbing until at last...

 

 

Triumph...the mountain conquered!

 

Just when you think your little boys is nothing but a tough guy...

He surprises you...

 

 

And spends the next 15 minutes sitting among the flowers...

Sweetly smelling each one in turn...

 

 

Touching each petal gently while chanting

"pwetty, pwetty, pwetty fwower"

 

 

Ahhh it is enough to melt a mother's heart into a puddle of mush!

 

But then he reverts back to tough guy...

He hits his sister as he runs by...

Jumps on his big-wheel, reveves the engine...

and is off again!!!

 

Ahhh the many sides of boys...

God love 'em!!!

Plant Trees Now...lemonade sipping depends on it

Every time I plant a tree I bemoan the fact that I did not plant it years ago.

If I had planted it 12 years ago when we first moved here it would have already grown large and be producing either shade, wind protection or fruit.

My goal this year is to plant any tree that I could possibly want here on the farm so I will not be kicking myself 10 years from now for not planting them 'back then'!

Today I'm planting a cherry tree...actually a large cherry bush.

 

Carmine Jewel Cherry

(is anyone else shocked every time you open a package of a mail order plant and shocked at the tiny size of it...I paid how much for this???)

It is a naturally dwarfing cherry that is grown on its own rootstock.  It is touted to be nearly pest and disease free as well as extremely cold hardy, with a flavor better than sweet cherries...we'll see if it can beat a good Rainer.

It is also supposed to be so lovely that it can be used as an ornamental...I'm planting it in the corner of the garden next to the compost bin.  I hope the bin appreciates such a fine and beautiful neighbor!

 

I started out by digging a hole where I wanted it...I chose a corner so I could easily use the fence to support any bird netting I might need in the future to protect it from marauding birds with a fetish for cherries.

I must say the soil in this spot doesn't look too bad, we have veins of sticky white clay that run throughout the property...nasty icky stuff!

 

 

I then back filled with a shovel full of partially composted manure, then more soil...

 

 

I was surprised to find that the itty bitty tree has some nice size roots...

 

 

After I planted it I put a plastic bottle that I had cut the bottom out of over the top and surrounded it by rocks.  We get a lot of wind here so I needed to anchor the bottle down or it would have ended up across the garden in the chicken yard!

This will protect it not only from mild frosts (which it is supposed to be resistant to) as well as rabbits, mice, and slugs...although I suppose a really ambitious slug might be able to crawl up the side and in.  I hate slugs for their acrobatic skills!

 

The rest of the corner was covered with a thick layer of newspaper covered by grass clippings...anything to not have to weed later!

It looks just to tiny sitting there in its bottle!

 

  Here is the little guy all tucked in and ready to rock.

My advice for what it is worth...plant your trees now. 

Plant them for the future...which will some day be the present and in the present you will be thankful that you planted them in the past instead of planting them now like I am or worse yet waiting to plant them in the future...really you will!

Anyway you can be sitting under them in a few years sipping lemonade enjoying their shady canopy...

Or yummy cherries!!!

Meet Daisy...our pound puppy!

 

We added to our family this weekend...

Meet Daisy

She is 7 weeks old.  We got her from the local animal shelter.

She is some sort of Shepard/Lab mix...

 

 

Go Daisy go!

We got her on the first day of spring...

Sweet Girl decided that in honor of spring she should be named after a flower

Petunia, Daffodil, Violet, Rosie, and Daisy

(these were all the flowers she could remember...I'm glad she didn't remember geranium, salvia, or lobelia)

 

 She chose Daisy, it seems to fit her.

 

 

 

I must say that photographing a lively puppy is harder than a lazy camel!

 

 

She finds things to sniff everywhere...

 

 

Unfortunately she also finds things to chew everywhere!

 

 

This is the little one's first encounter with a puppy of their own...

They are having a hard time understanding why such a cute baby has such sharp teeth...

and a need to chew on them!

 

 

She was chewing on my boot here...

it was the only way I could get a close up of her!

 

 

I think this is a perfect match!!!

 

We lost our dog of almost 18 years on labor day last year.  It took us this long to get to the point of being able to get another dog.  I still miss Scout and find myself thinking of her often.  She was a wonderful dog, another mixed breed pound puppy, who was sweet, protective, full of life, and very much missed! 

I think she would approve of the new little one!

Nature in a Hurry!

I was so surprised to find this in the yard...

Spring is only a couple of days old and already nature is trying to procreate...

 

Good Gracious slow down will you...what's the hurry?

 

 

 

Note:  I am having some technical difficulties with my computer and it is eating my photos as well as saving them weird sizes...I discovered this all this morning.

Hopefully I can find the pictures somewhere on the computer and share our new addition we adopted this weekend from the animal shelter...

Daisy the puppy has joined the farm!!!

Lazy Llama...goat and camel too!

I'm working away in the garden...

Turning the compost...

Planting spinach and peas...

Weeding and general clean up

 

When I look around this is what I see...

A llama lazing in the sun...

A goat catching some zzzzz's...

 

 

And a camel just hanging out enjoying the spring day...

 

 

As I plunge my pitchfork into the compost pile I can't help but wonder...

Who's the dumb animal???

Friday Funnies III

 

 

Mama, did you know that farmer's walk around with hay sticking out of their mouths?

Well they do in books anyway sweetie

I'm a farm girl so I need some hay in my mouth

Oh really...

 

Mama...hay doesn't taste very good

Well hay would probably taste better if you hadn't taken it from the compost bin

Oh...

 

Note to the squeamish...she got it from the compost bin itself which is made of straw and not actually from IN the compost bin!

How I Know Spring is Here...part 4

Spring must be here...

Its time to break out the...

Popsicles!!!

 

Baby Boy got to indulge in a mango popsicle for the very first time!

 

 

He kept looking at it suspiciously...

Why are you so good, but why do you have to be so cold?

 

 

And why do you keep dripping down my arm?

 

 

And my chin...

 

 

Hey Baby...how much do you like that popsicle?

 

 

Enough to do the popsicle dance!!!

 

Now in case any of you were wondering...

Yes Sweet Girl got a popsicle too!

She was just to busy dancing barefoot in the grass and...

 

 Singing us an operetta...

for me to get any good shots of her with a popsicle!

 

 

Although she did pause long enough to share a little bite of brother's popsicle...

Hey now, not too much!

 

 

And this is what happened when Baby Boy found out his sister didn't have any left of her's to share with him...

Ohhh the drama!!!

How I Know Spring is Here...part 3

Bare Feet!!!

I know spring is here when Sweet Girl kicks off her shoes and doesn't put them back on until October...

My kids like to go bare footed...but none as much as my sweet daughter.

By the time summer is over here feet are like boot leather.

She can run over rocks and through the rough grass without so much as a wince or complaint!

 

 

She specializes in getting her feet dirty...

 

 

Very, very dirty!!!

 

 

Being the Northwest there is always a puddle to clean up in...

This one is on the back side of the woodpile!

 

Yep...spring has arrived and I'm going to be seeing a lot more of those sweet little girl toes!

 

Oh yeah...someone else likes bare feet

 

Especially when they smell like newly mowed grass!

 

 

Hey Sweet Girl...bring those toes a little closer...I just want a little nibble!

Shamrock Green Camel

Gizmo loves to follow me around when I mow the lawn...

 

He follows me up and down the fence keeping perfect pace...

waiting...

not so patiently...

for...

handouts!

 

Which he eats with great enthusiasm!

 

 

Gobbling down every last blade of cut grass I'm willing to share with him...

 

 

Turning his lips a bright shamrock green!

 

 

Happy St. Patricks Day from

the

Inadvertent Farmer

and

Gizmo...Mr. Green Lips!

 

How I Know Spring is Here...part 2

 

I know its spring when a dandelion in the yard has me grinning from ear to ear!

The kids love them, the bees love them...and this time of year so do I!

 

 

I have always just let the weeds grow in the lawn...I figure it makes a more interesting mix that just straight grass.

She lets the dandelions grow...on purpose? Ughhhh!!

Sorry...I know you lawn types will shudder at that.

Except for thistles, weeds are pretty much an accepted part of the lawn.

 

Now my garden is another matter...

 

 

Here is a pretty little weed that was growing alongside the dandelion.

I have no idea what it is...

 

 

But I sure do like it...

Anything blooming right now is a beloved sight!

 

Welcome back little weeds...happy spring to you!

 

How I know Spring is Here...

Everyday this week I'm going to post about how I know spring has arrived here at the farm. 

Every picture I post this week is from the same warm sunny day that the kids and I enjoyed together.

One way I know spring has arrived is because our little colorful winged friends have returned...

 

This little guy was fluttering around trying to figure out how to get out of the hen house...

 

 

Lucky for him the hens were outside and didn't notice him...

Or it could have been ugly!

 

 

After a few minutes of watching him desperately try to get out, I opened the window....

 

 

He eventually flew to freedom...

Enjoy your spring little one...

I know I will!!!

Friday Funnies II

 

WIND BLOWN

Sweet Girl with that glamorous wind blown look that is all the rage with the high fashion models in Paris...

Or better yet... the newest style with silly little farm kids in Washington!

 

Happy Friday everybody...

May there be a smile on your face and a wind in your sails!

Kim...the inadvertent farmer

Winter's Only Rose

 

My mom has a wonderful blue stoneware pitcher that she has filled with a very unique plant...

It has blooms all winter...no matter the weather!

 

 

It has long jointed arms than dangle down over the sides of the pitcher...

Yet no leaves...

Other worldly looking actually...

 

 

At the end of each arm is a tiny blossom that looks very much like a diminutive rose!

 

 

When the arms get all entangles you end up with a bouquet of these bitty flowers

 

 

I must admit for a girl that is all into big gawdy flowers like dahlias, sunflowers, and daisies I sure do have a soft spot for for this particular plant!

 

I just wish I knew what it was...

I know it is some kind of succulent but other than that I have no clue...

 

Hey mom, if you could keep your plant tags I would be very appreciative!

 

Then again I wish I would remember to keep my own plant tags,

Or at least write down somewhere what I just planted

But that bad habit of mine if for a whole different post!

 

Weeder Elk

We have had 'weeder geese' in the past.

They were wonderful at keeping the grass and weeds down in the orchard, noisy but effective...well until a bobcat ate them all!

 

I looked out the window a couple of mornings ago to see this...

   

The elk were back,

but this time not in the pasture but in the yard...

less than 10 feet from the house!

(side note about the yard...its just a continuation of the field that grows up next to the house that happens to get mown once in a while)

 

 

And to my surprise they were doing a bang up job weeding for me!

Weeder Elk!!!

 

Around the ornamental pear trees and snowball bushes...

 

This one is cleaning up under the Viburnum!

 

 

This little guy took a liking to the grass right along the side patio!

 

 

He kept right on eating...

 

 

Till he had eventually gone around the whole thing!

 

There were a whole cast of characters including this guy...

 

The bad boy of the herd...

The rebel...

The non-conformist...

The outlaw...

The one with his antlers growing in opposite direction...strange!

 

 

They were also working around the back patio!

 

 

The baby is coming over to hang with the bad boy...

 

 

Hmmm, does you mama know what kind of crowd your hanging out with?

 

  

Hey big fella...when you're done weeding around the pot, could you maybe weed in the pot? 

Thanks.

 

 

The garden fence could certainly use a little trimming around the bottom!

 

After watching them work there way around most of the house...

They suddenly turned and walked down the hill.

Thanks guys!

 

 

 

Just when I though I had found the perfect solution to my weeds...

I stepped out the front door to find this...

 

 

Suspicious hoof prints next to the front walk...

 

and this...

 

Yep, they ate almost every last leaf off the ivy growing on the front porch...

Even the ivy growing up the columns!

This meant they had been on the front porch...

Which lead to me having to clean elk poo off the front porch...

 

Ok guys...you're fired!

 

You just can't good help nowadays!

The Ugly Truth....

I wondered out to the garden this last weekend to check on my pea patch...

you remember...

The one I planted in a fit of rebellion.

 

I was wondering how the little baby peas were doing.

I was sure they would be up by now.

I couldn't wait to see all those little green sprouts emerging out of the earth

Holding with them the promise of sweet wonderfulness!

 

After I pulled back the protective layer of straw I discovered the ugly truth...

 

Yes sirree...that is a varmint hole

Either a vole or a field mouse are the most likely suspects.

I know when I see these that there is nothing good to follow...nothing at all!

 

As I scanned the patch I found hundreds of little tiny holes like this...

 

This is where a pea shoot should be emerging

 But the evil creature has dug it up

And eaten it!

 

 

Look at all those little holes...

My hopes for extra early peas have been dashed

 

There is nothing left but 2 or 3 lone sprouts and...

 

These...

Tiny seed coats, now empty

Gone with them the hopes of sweet delectable snap peas

My heart is broken...

sniff

 

As I hung my head in sadness and turned to leave the scene...

 

I was sure I heard something...

 

 

This is not over my little devilish foe...

Not by a long shot!

 

 

What's Up With This???

 

Hold on one minute...

What's up with the white stuff?

It's Western Washington...it doesn't snow here in March.

Actually it usually doesn't snow here much at all...

But certainly not in March!

 

 

There are swelling buds on the cherry trees in the driveway...

We have set our clocks ahead for spring...

I have planted peas for goodness sake...

 

 

My poor rooster is gonna freeze to death...

He is ready for spring!

 

 

I picture my camellia covered in white...

Pristine white blossoms that is...

Not this cold frozen stuff!

 

 

Even baby boy's car seems to be looking out over the snow covered drive wishing and hoping for spring!

Again I ask...

What's up with this?

I am puzzled, perplexed...and mostly irritated.

I have a garden to plant...

I have projects that need to be done...

Structures that need to be built...

Instead?

I'm looking out the window as it keeps snowing...

Listening to the kids begging to put on their snow clothes...

Wanting to go sledding...

We don't sled around here in March...

 

Seriously we don't!

Ice Cream Cabbage

 

When I was editing these pictures Sweet Girl was sitting next to me.  She got so excited saying how this cabbage looked like a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

You would also have to know that both of my youngest children are obsessed with ice cream thanks to their ice cream lovin' father!

After looking at it I must agree with her...much like a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Mmmmm!

 

 

 

Just for fun I did the automatic adjustment through my photo editing program.  It is always curious to me how the computer 'sees' colors that I don't.

 

 

It found some burnt sienna in the middle of the blossom, blues and the edges and even some violets at the top...

I always find this kind of stuff so interesting...

Then again I'm easily amused!

 

Have a wonderful day...

I think I'm gonna go get myself some ice cream!

The Friday Funnies...a new series

I have so many pictures of critters and kiddos that are just plain funny and/or strange.  I am starting a series where I share with them you on Fridays.  I'm calling the new series the

Friday Funnies

Here is the first installment...

 

LOVE HURTS

If there has ever been a picture that defines the relationship between big sister and little brother around here it is this one!

Sweet Girl just loves him with her whole being...baby boy puts up with it.  He vacillates between bewilderment, annoyance, and revenge!

First of the Babies Have Arrived

We are planning on some babies this spring.

Not the human kind...we have enough of those!

 

No these are of the critter persuasion.

First comes the chicks...

 

We just got our batch of Arucana chickens!

the kids are loving them...

 

 

The chicks are not loving the kids so much...

 

 

They run and hide in the corner of their box ever time they see the kids lean in to see them.  I can't say I blame them.

Sweet Girls just wants to hold and cuddle them

Baby Boy...

Well he just stands next to the box yelling at them saying

"Chick, chick...bock, bock, bock"

 

 

Poor babies don't get a moment's peace.

They are gonna grow up to be nervous, flighty hens!!!

 

 

Such is the plight of most of the animals around here...

Learn to put up with the kids or you just won't survive!

 

Next...

Bunnies

Kittens

and

a Puppy!

 

Yawn...

YAWN...

STRETCH...

Baby Boy was up at 3:30 am.

He wanted a banana and a glass of milk.  I being in a semiconscious state couldn't stand the crying for "nana, nana, nana...milk, milk...mama, mama"  so I got up got the requested banana and milk.  I slumped in the corner of the couch nearest the wood stove and watched him out of the corner of my eye as he scarfed down both.

He then wanted me to read him a book...I refused.  I do have my limits in the middle of the night.  So he sat on my lap looking at a book making the appropriate animals noises with each new page.  I was drifting in and out at this point dreaming of cows and pigs and roosters.

He eventually went back to sleep.

I awoke later to sweet girl leaning over me wanting to know if she could have some cereal.

Look at the clock...

Darn

We of course have early morning appointments.  So as the kids are eating their breakfast I am typing away letting you all know that I will be back later to post about our new babies here on the farm.

In the meantime, I'm gonna brush my teeth, throw water on my face and pretend that I had a peaceful night sleep

If only I could quit yawning!